11 survive plane crash and 5-hour sea ordeal off Florida coast
On Wednesday, a US Air Force Reserve team, along with officials from the US Coast Guard and US Air Force, successfully rescued all 11 individuals aboard a private plane that crashed off central Florida. The twin-engine turboprop, which had taken off from the Bahamas, went down in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 129km from Melbourne, Florida, triggering an emergency locator signal. Major Elizabeth Piowaty of the US Air Force, who led the rescue operation, described the survival as "pretty miraculous." Her HC-130J Combat King II, which was already in the air for a training exercise, located the life raft and delivered supplies. The survivors had spent around five hours in the raft and were in distress when the last person was hoisted into a helicopter, just minutes before running out of fuel.
Key facts
- All 11 people aboard a private plane that crashed at sea off central Florida survived.
- The crash occurred on Tuesday in the Atlantic about 129km off Melbourne, Florida.
- The plane was a twin-engined turboprop flying from the Bahamas with 11 adults on board.
- Survivors spent about five hours in a life raft before rescue.
- US Air Force Reserve team, US Coast Guard, and US Air Force conducted the rescue.
- Major Elizabeth Piowaty commanded one of the rescue aircraft, an HC-130J Combat King II.
- The rescue aircraft was already on a training mission when the search began.
- Captain Rory Whipple was one of the pararescuers who hoisted survivors into a helicopter with minutes of fuel left.
Entities
Institutions
- US Air Force Reserve
- US Coast Guard
- US Air Force
Locations
- Florida
- Atlantic Ocean
- Melbourne
- Bahamas